The History

Almost 700 years ago, on an island in the water of Lake Texcoco, the Aztecas founded Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlán was built in 1325 by the Aztecs. It was destroyed by the Spanish when they conquered Mexico. Hernando Cortez first entered the Valley of Mexico in 1519. With fewer than 200 soldiers and a few horses, he conquered the Aztecs. In 1521 the Spanish destroyed the city of Tenochtitlán.

This ancient wonder later became the largest capital city the world has ever known. The city’s secular past melds three distinct cultures; the prehispanic, the colonial and the modern. These unique personalities have came together in the anthology we know today as Mexico City. Prehispanic influences can still be found in the faces of its people and the buildings and monuments built by their ancestors. In contrast, Historic Downtown illustrates Mexico’s Colonial period, with ornate religious buildings and architecturally masterful civic plazas that remain among the most beautiful in the world. With towering skyscrapers, sophisticated shopping malls and world-class hotels, modern day Mexico City is at the forefront on the XXI Century. This brilliant combination of history, tradition and modernization makes Mexico City one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.

The Facts

Elevation: 7,400 feet/ 2256 meters

Average Annual Rainfall: 25.7 inches/ 65 centimeters

Average January Temperature: 68 degrees

Average July Temperature: 77 degrees

Major Industries: construction and the production of chemicals, plastics, cement, and yarns and textiles.